Polish PiS MEPs reject Orbán’s offer, choose Meloni – Euractiv

///

BERLIN

Berlin must find a way to work with the far-right French government, says a chancellor candidate. German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become chancellor next year, has said his government would work with a French cabinet led by the far-right National Rally, which could come to fruition after this week’s French elections, drawing inspiration from the RN’s hardline stance on Germany’s AfD. Read more.

German pressure on EU-China trade performance intensifies as Commission tariffs come into force. Pressure from Germany to reconsider tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars is set to intensify in the coming weeks as member states begin to negotiate their official position on the issue, after the Commission confirmed on Thursday that the provisional duties will come into force from Friday. Read more.

///

PARIS

Legislative elections: the great fear of French diplomats. As the National Rally (RN) moves closer than ever to power in France, many French diplomats fear what serving under a far-right government could mean. Read more.

United Kingdom and Ireland

UK elections: Labour officially wins majority, helped by rise of far right. The British Labour Party crossed the threshold of 326 seats on 5 July at 6am (CET), officially making it the winner of the general election on 4 July, ending 14 years of rule by the right-wing Conservative Party. Read more.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

ROME

The European left admits the Italian M5S on a probationary basis. The Italian Five Star Movement (M5S) has officially joined the European left group, but its full membership in the group will be conditional on a six-month probationary period of “mutual commitment”. Read more.

Three former Italian prime ministers believe Biden should abandon his re-election bid. US President Joe Biden must forfeit his re-election bid or Donald Trump will surely return to the White House, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday. His views were echoed by two other former Italian prime ministers. Read more.

///

MADRID

Spanish PP proposes deploying army to curb irregular immigration. The Spanish government must stem the massive influx of illegal migrants by all means at its disposal, including deploying the army and navy to better control its borders, said Miguel Tellado, parliamentary spokesman for the main opposition party, the Partido Popular (PP/EPP). Read more.

///

LISBON

The Portuguese government imposes a minimum tax of 15% on large multinationals. The Portuguese government is moving towards a minimum tax mechanism of 15% for multinational and national groups, according to the package of measures approved at the Council of Ministers on Thursday. Read more.

///

ATHENS

A poll confirms that the Greek political system is in crisis. A new poll released Thursday night showed that the record abstention rate in the recent European elections was no coincidence, with Greek citizens feeling increasingly disappointed or indifferent towards the Mediterranean country’s political system. Read more.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is travelling to Greece on Friday and is expected to visit EUNAVFOR headquarters in Larissa – the base of the European military operation in response to Houthi engagements with international shipping in the Red Sea.

Greek diplomatic sources said that Borell would meet with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. On Saturday (July 6), Borell and Dendias are expected to board the Greek frigate “Psara”, which is participating in the European operation ASPIDES and is currently sailing to Djibouti.

EASTERN EUROPE

BUDAPEST

Hungarian Orbán travels to Moscow a few days after his trip to kyiv. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán flew to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days after his visit to kyiv, a trip that earned him sharp rebukes from EU officials and diplomats. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria is paying 142 million euros to companies that joined the project after Gazprom was cut off. The Bulgarian government decided on Thursday to compensate 278 million leva (142 million euros) to natural gas traders who helped fill the Chiren public gas storage site after Russian gas supplies were suddenly cut off in late April 2022. Read more.

///

BUCHAREST

Romanian presidential elections postponed until the end of the year. Romania’s ruling coalition concluded talks on Thursday on the electoral calendar for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, according to a press release from the Social Democrats and Liberals. Read more.

---

AGENDA:

• EU:Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson meets with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in Buenos Aires;
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell visits the headquarters of EUNAVFOR Operation Aspides (military operation in response to Houthi clashes with international shipping in the Red Sea), in Larissa, Greece;

***

(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara)

Learn more with Euractiv

Subscribe now to our newsletter Decrypting the European elections